It’s official —King CharlesandQueen Camillahave been crowned at theircoronation!
Although King Charles, 74, became monarch immediately uponQueen Elizabeth’s death in September and named Queen Camilla, 75, as his Queen Consort the following day, the historic service — including the crowning — was carried out at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
King Charles and Queen Camilla.Getty (2)
“Charles became King Charles the moment his mother died, but the coronation is to do with the job and being the monarch in the eyes of all the people,” royal historian Robert Lacey previously PEOPLE.
The coronation did not take place immediately to respect a period of mourning as well as to allow time for preparations for the ceremony.
King Charles wearing St. Edward’s Crown.RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty
King Charles was enthroned with the commandingSt. Edward’s Crown. The St. Edward’s Crown, which weighs nearly 5 lbs., was first created for King Charles II in 1661 as a replacement for the previous crown that had been melted down in 1649. The palace said the original was thought to date back to the 11th-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
The St. Edward’s Crown is only used to crown a new king or queen during the coronation ceremony, last used in 1953 for King Charles' mother,Queen Elizabeth.
King Charles.BBC
King Charles actually wore two crowns on his coronation day — he swapped the St. Edward’s Crown for theImperial State Crownat the end of the service. The headpiece is slightly less heavy at a little over 2 lbs. — but still stunning with its 2,868 diamonds in silver mounts and colored stones in gold mounts, including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls.
The Imperial State Crown was last seen onQueen Elizabeth’s coffin during her funeral in September and is also used on ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament.
Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Camilla wore Queen Mary’s Crown with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds that were part ofQueen Elizabeth’s personal jewelry collection. The late monarch often wore them as brooches.
Her choice marked the first time in recent history that an existing crown was used for the coronation of a Queen Consort instead of a new commission being made, the palace said, “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency.” The last time a Queen Consort’s crown was reused was in the 18th century, when Queen Caroline, consort of George II, wore Mary of Modena’s crown.
Queen Camilla.BBC
ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty
RELATED VIDEO:What Crowns Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Use
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source: people.com
